Floatable toy



Feb. 13, 1968 A. HECKATHORN 3,368,228

FLOATABLE TOY Filed Jan. 6, 1967 Fij l INVEN TOR. Grace A. Hec/(arhomUnited States Patent 3,368,228 FLOATABLE TOY Grace A. Heclraihorn, Rte.1, Box 55A, KennewichWash. 99336 Filed Jan. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 607,682 5Claims. (Cl. 9-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tire-like floatable toyhaving an inner liner for a person to sit on.

This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly atoy.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide a toywhich is suitable as a playground unit and is designed to carry one ormore occupants as it rotates about its axis.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy which is ofeducational value as it exposes occupants to centrifugal forces.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy which is adapted tobe used as a floating tire on the water surface.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a toy which is madeof resilient material such as rubber, being provided with a hollowportion for floating purposes, is of generally rugged construction, maybe massed produced, is of amusement value, may be inexpensivelymanufactured, may be reasonably priced, and provides maximum joy to theyoungsters using it.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactoryembodiment of the invention shown. However, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes allsuch variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of this invention shown in elevation and partlybroken away.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE1.

According to this invention a toy 10 includes a circular resilientmember which assumes a sectional U-type shape and is preferably made ofresilient substance. An insert member 12 is snugly secured within theinner walls of member 11 for reducing the possibility of puncture ordamage thereto. A resilient liner 13 is suitably secured to the outeredges of insert 12 and circular member 11 foryproviding seating means tothe youngsters within said tire-like toy 10. Each side of circularmember 11 includes at least one handle 15 which is made of rubber or anyother resilient material and assumes a 3,368,228 Patented Feb. 13, 1968"ice semicircular configuration. Handle 15 is suitably adapted to beused as grasping means for the occupant or occupants seated on theresilient liner 13 within circular member 11 and insert member 12.

It will also be noted that the area enclosed by insert member 12 andresilient liner 13 forms a circular pocket of vacuum therebyfacilitating the floating capability of toy 10. Thus, in addition torolling or rotating capability of circular member 11 (with the occupantsinside seated on liner 13), this invention provides for floating of saidmember 11 in a life raft fashion.

The foregoing illustration and description of the preferred form orembodiment of this invention is not primarily intended to define orlimit the scope or spirit of this invention in any way but is intendedmerely by way of explanation and example to disclose this invention. Inview of this, it is obvious to anyone skilled in the art, to make thenecessary modifications, changes and/ or corrections without departingin any manner from the subject matter of this invention.

What I now claim is:

1. A toy comprising, in combination a circular outer member of sectionalU-type configuration, an insert member of sectional U-type configurationsnugly secured within the inside Walls of said outer member forprotecting said outer member from puncture, a resilient layer secured tothe top edges of said insert member and providing seating means to theoccupants of said circular outer member when said toy assumes a rotatingposition, and said insert member and said resilient layer forming acircular pocket of vacuum for causing said outer member and said insertlayer to float on the surface of water, and handle means secured to theinside edge portion of said outer member for providing grasping means tothe occupants of said toy.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said outer member andsaid resilient layer are made of flexible rubber material.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the inner walls of saidinsert member assume corrugated configurations.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said handle means isconsisting of a pair of spaced apart, semicircular handles each of whichbeing secured to the inner edge portion of said outer member at itsrespective end portions.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the exterior of saidouter member is covered with a plurality of contrasting colors for theesthetic value thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,135,978 6/1964 Grasmoen 9347MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner.

